If you are looking for an inexpensive and space-saving privacy screen for your front garden, a hedge is the best choice. Wooden fences and walls also keep prying eyes away; However, they usually incur considerable costs. Get to know 8 recommended shrubs here that form an opaque front garden hedge.
Which shrubs are suitable for a front garden hedge?
Fast-growing shrubs such as butterfly lilac, fragrant jasmine and panicle hydrangea or evergreen species such as cherry laurel, yew and rocket juniper are suitable for an opaque front garden hedge. Alternatively, holly or decorative grasses such as garden riding grass and dwarf pampas grass provide privacy protection.
Fast-growing shrubs – growth rockets for the front garden hedge
If you don't want to wait long for a front garden hedge with a privacy screen effect, choose from the following fast-growing deciduous trees. In contrast to conifers, the following shrubs give a lot of effort to reach head-high into the sky:
- Butterfly lilac (Buddleja davidii) grows in height by up to 150 cm per year
- Scented jasmine, farmer's jasmine (Philadelphus coronarius) the fragrant flower beauty grows up to 80 cm annually
- Pranicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) thrives rapidly with up to 100 cm annual growth
The firethorn 'Red Column' (Pyracantha coccinea) is also very popular. This deciduous shrub not only grows really quickly, but also fends off uninvited guests with its thorns.
Evergreen hedge bushes – year-round bulwark against prying eyes
If you aim to provide year-round privacy protection with your front garden hedge, focus on evergreen, densely leafy shrubs. The following species and varieties have emerged as the best choice for this purpose:
- Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), the ideal hedge plant for sunny to semi-shady locations
- Yew (Taxus baccata) is perfect for a long-lasting and beautifully trimmed front garden hedge
- Rocket juniper 'Blue Arrow' (Juniperus scopulorum) with its slender shape is ideal for small front gardens
The native holly (Illex aquifolia) is recommended as the best alternative to pest-threatened boxwoods (Buxus). Since the box tree moth is spreading unabated throughout Germany, Buxus hedges are in a losing battle. With its elegantly shiny, spiked leaves and bright red berries, the holly is also an attractive eye-catcher for creative front garden design.
Tip
Do you prefer creative front garden design with grasses? Then Mother Nature has a whole host of majestic species ready for you that are suitable for decorative privacy protection. Prime examples are the garden riding grass 'Karl Foerster' (Calamagrostis x acutiflora), which reaches an impressive height of 150 to 180 cm, and the magnificent dwarf pampas grass 'Evita' (Cortaderia selloana).